- If you don't drive, check bus schedule before going out. - Aside from the busy cities like Toronto etc., buses run every 30 mins on weekdays & every 1hr on weekends. - Before buying textbooks, check with Lecturers if okay with you borrowing from Library rather than owning. - If you can't afford the school residence, you can rent very close to the school. - It is cheaper to cook than to eat out. - Sobeys is a high-end grocery store for students. Try others. - Connect with students from the prior year for course tips. - Ask questions a lot in class. - Mix with students from other backgrounds to learn and understand other's perspectives. - Research how to be successful in your course of study. - Research what certification is relevant to your field in Canada. - Mix with other African/Ethnicity students to reduce nostalgia. - Be mindful of your study permit expiry date and when to apply for an extension. - It is never too early to start reading about the process of PR, because you might be eligible. - The International Office in school is your first stop for questions & concerns relating to course. - Be mindful of 'Them-Say-Them-Say'. Be sure to request the source of an info to read it in black and white. - Remember the daughter/son of whom you are. - Don’t get carried away by infrastructure or because the system works. - Distinction is not a bad idea. 🤷🏿‍♂️ - Get your G1/G2/G licenses as soon as possible. - If you are particular about meeting Nigerians, there is most likely a church /mosque in your city where you can network in that regard. - If you can, as a student, have only 1 credit card. You can use it to build credit history. - Look for banks that have account perks for newcomers/students. - Don't call Nigeria directly with your local Network if you aren't sure of the call rate. - Look up your school website to see if there are awards/scholarships available for international students after school. - If you need to extend your passport, the Nigerian High Commission is in Ottawa but call them because of the lockdown. - Register with a local job agency to ease your part-time job search while schooling. - It is cheaper to fly outside Canada than within Canada. - Punctuality is key. Try to adjust as soon as you can. - School is very important, but remember to live too. Explore your city and neighboring cities. - There’s most likely a chapter/association for professionals in your field. Try to be a member of such. - Get your resume reviewed to a Canadian format. - Create a profile on Indeed.Ca. Never too early to see what the labour market looks like. - Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) should never be given to anyone other than Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or your employer. - You can get a provincial ID Card as a means of identification so you don’t need to have your international passport with you at all times. - You should also get your school ID card. - Check your school tuition breakdown to see if there are any health benefits entitled to you. - When winter starts, please get a very good winter jacket, winter boots, & have your gloves with you at all times. Again, it isn’t too early to start reading about the Express Entry program as a student. In many cases, eligible students begin the process early. All the best.